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Psychopaths versus sociopaths: what is the difference? (includes a quiz to see if you are one)
The Conversation ^
| July 27, 2015
| By XANTHE MALLETT — Senior Lecturer in Forensic Criminology at University of New England
Posted on 08/02/2015 1:54:20 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Psychopath and sociopath are popular psychology terms to describe violent monsters born of our worst nightmares. Think Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs (1991), Norman Bates in Psycho (1960) and Annie Wilkes in Misery (1990). In making these characters famous, popular culture has also burned the words used to describe them into our collective consciousness.
Most of us, fortunately, will never meet a Hannibal Lecter, but psychopaths and sociopaths certainly do exist. And they hide among us. Sometimes as the most successful people in society because theyre often ruthless, callous and superficially charming, while having little or no regard for the feelings or needs of others.
These are known as successful psychopaths, as they have a tendency to perform premeditated crimes with calculated risk. Or they may manipulate someone else into breaking the law, while keeping themselves safely at a distance. Theyre master manipulators of other peoples feelings, but are unable to experience emotions themselves.
Sound like someone you know? Well, heads up. You do know one; at least one. Prevalence rates come in somewhere between 0.2% and 3.3% of the population.
(Excerpt) Read more at theconversation.com ...
TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: psychology; psychopath; sociopath
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To save hunting for the link to the Quiz in the article, here is a link to the
"AM I A PSYCHOPATH QUIZ?".
I scored 9. . . (Sorry, Anti-Apple Hate Brigade, I am saneSwordmaker).
To: Swordmaker
How can we get Obama, Valerie Jarrett, and Hillary to take this test?
2
posted on
08/02/2015 1:55:33 PM PDT
by
Swordmaker
( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
To: Swordmaker
How dare you score a 9? I scored a 9! I’ll kill you! /not a psychopath
3
posted on
08/02/2015 1:59:50 PM PDT
by
Rastus
To: Swordmaker
I only scored ten. But I still prefer dogs to people.
4
posted on
08/02/2015 1:59:50 PM PDT
by
sparklite2
(Voting is acting white.)
To: Swordmaker
Seven for me but I hardly think it is a valid measure of psychopaths.
5
posted on
08/02/2015 2:00:40 PM PDT
by
Fungi
To: Swordmaker
To: Swordmaker
Actually, the real test is if you scored high and really don't care.
(:
7
posted on
08/02/2015 2:01:56 PM PDT
by
riri
(Obama's Amerika--Not a fun place.)
To: Swordmaker
I always knew that their were about 98% of people out there that I continuously have to be on the look out for!
8
posted on
08/02/2015 2:02:01 PM PDT
by
Delta 21
(Patiently waiting for the jack booted kick at my door.)
To: Swordmaker
I scored a 20 ... I guess that means that I could be a psychopath but I’m just not trying hard enough ...
9
posted on
08/02/2015 2:03:23 PM PDT
by
BlueLancer
(Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.)
To: Swordmaker
I scored 15, so I guess I’m half psychopath?
10
posted on
08/02/2015 2:04:41 PM PDT
by
edpc
(Wilby 2016)
To: Swordmaker
I’m still trying to answer which gender I identify with...there’s only 2 listed.
11
posted on
08/02/2015 2:05:06 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(FReeping on CRUZ Control)
To: Swordmaker
I scored 18.
I think it might have more to do with my Asperger’s syndrome than any sociopathic tendencies.
12
posted on
08/02/2015 2:05:14 PM PDT
by
Jonty30
(What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
To: Swordmaker
They would lie and beat the test.
To: Admin Moderator
Aced it as in 0 or 40? {{Gulp}}
14
posted on
08/02/2015 2:06:27 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(FReeping on CRUZ Control)
To: Swordmaker
Wouldn’t a psychopath lie on every question to manipulate the results?
15
posted on
08/02/2015 2:06:51 PM PDT
by
ZOOKER
(Until further notice the /s is implied...)
To: ZOOKER
"Wouldnt a psychopath lie on every question to manipulate the results?"
It didn't help ...
16
posted on
08/02/2015 2:07:45 PM PDT
by
BlueLancer
(Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.)
To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
They would lie and beat the test.Who are they?
Do you mean ME?
I'm SANE, sane, I tell you...
17
posted on
08/02/2015 2:08:32 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(FReeping on CRUZ Control)
I could be wrong but I always thought a psycopath was like Manson, and a sociopath would be like Clinton or Obama
18
posted on
08/02/2015 2:09:15 PM PDT
by
dsrtsage
(One half of all people have below average IQ. In the US the number is 54%)
To: Swordmaker
19
posted on
08/02/2015 2:12:09 PM PDT
by
fivecatsandadog
(Obama is an enemy of the US.)
To: sparklite2
20
posted on
08/02/2015 2:12:48 PM PDT
by
Andy'smom
(How many more acts of love can we take?)
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